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Laursen: Proud to be skipper

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Martin Laursen admits he would be 'proud' to be Aston Villa's captain on a permanent basis.

The Danish defender was named skipper for the 2-2 draw with Odense in the Intertoto Cup on Saturday and rose to the challenge by scoring his side's second goal.

With Gareth Barry aiming to leave Villa Park, manager Martin O'Neill is looking for a new captain and Laursen would be keen on the job.

"I would be proud to captain Aston Villa," Laursen told the club's official website. "That is a nice thing and I would be very proud to do it. It was a proud moment for me to do it in my home country.

Responsibility

"When I play I don't think about the captaincy. It is not always on my mind and it is not going to ruin my season if I am not the captain.

"I hope to play a good season and it would be nice to have that responsibility as well.

"I think it would go down well in Denmark if it happened. It would be good for Denmark and for Danish football."

Meanwhile, O'Neill has compared Laursen to Villa legend Paul McGrath and current Chelsea captain John Terry.

Talismanic figure

O'Neill said: "He is in the John Terry mould isn't he? And he has become such a talismanic figure for the club.

"He never lets you down. In Denmark, it could not have been anyone else.

"The knee injury he had would have floored lesser men. To play consistently and as well as he has is extraordinary.

"He is a bit like Paul McGrath in that respect. If he is to become an iconic figure like McGrath, he has to play for a number of years and let's hope that happens."